Trash to treasure at community centre

ITEMS that could be considered rubbish will flower into art at the Meredith Community Centre as a two-day mosaics workshop returns next week.

Artist Dianne Crea will run two sessions on Saturday, 26 February and Saturday, 5 March.

The first class will focus on design preparation and adhesive mixing while second will look at bring it all together with grouting.

The workshop will be the second held at the Meredith Community Centre following its successful inauguration last year despite blackouts and bad weather.

“It was a wonderful group. I was just blown away by what everyone produced,” Crea said.

“That one went really well and we hope this one will do the same.”

A mosaic artist since 2003, Crea has made lifelong friends through her interest in the style, but said that her use of upcycled materials adds an extra value to her teachings.

“If you can find something to do with those items as a positive rather than them just going to landfill, you’ve won the war on waste,” she said.

Materials for the workshops like tiles, China, and terracotta are provided to participants, much of which is given to Crea by people as leftovers from renovations.

A member of the Mosaic Association of Australia and New Zealand, Crea is prolific in passing on her passion.

She also teaches at The Rosewall Community Centre each Wednesday and The Norlane Community Centre on Mondays.

“I just like spreading the mosaic word,” she said. “I find it very heart-warming to see people enthusiastic about it and enjoying what I love to do. It’s just a positive for me every time I do it.”

Entry to the upcoming workshops will be $70, and attendants will need to bring their own wheel cutter which can be purchased from hardware stores for about $30.